Semaphore.



F. P. J. PATENALL.

SEMAPHORE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 1914.

1,175,076. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Mi/186568 m f $3M it;

FRANK P. J. PATENALL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SEMAIPHORE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Application filed November 19, 1914. Serial No. 873,044.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. J. PATE- NALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State'of Maryland, have invented an Improvement in Semaphores, of which the following is a specification.

In the spectacles of semaphores, roundels are arranged at the openings therein, which roundels are usually composed of glass. The semaphore is subjected to severe weather conditions and also to severe jars incident to sudden cessation of its movements, and as a result, much difliculty has been experienced in holding the roundels in place. They have been held by metallic rings ordinarily termed the spectacle rings, which are secured to the spectacle of the semaphore at the openings, said rings having lips which extend over the edges of the roundels, a packing being interposed between the rings and roundels. This packing has consisted of putty or rubber or felt,

which has been arranged to extend over and entirely incloses the edges of the roundels, being coextensive with the circumferences thereof. Putty and rubber rapidly deteriorate with age, becoming hard and brittle, and as a result the roundels soon loosen and rattle, and consequently are very liable to be broken, and the felt rings break over the edges. A broken signal is very dangerous to life and property, and the vigilance of the railroad inspectors is taxed to the utmost to discover a signal which is liable to become broken. This invention relates particularly to a packing especially adapted for this use.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a packing composed of thick soft felt, or some equivalent material, which will not deteriorate with age, and having an attaching-portion insertible between the spectacle and the ring, to receive the attaching-bolts thereof, and having terminal-portions adapted to embrace an edgeportion of the roundel, whereby the roundel will be yieldingly held between the spectacle and its ring. Several of these packings will be employed, which are arranged about the roundel and are associated with the attaching-bolts of the spectacle-ring, usually three or more being employed.

Figure 1, is a front elevation of a semaphore having the usual roundels held in place by the spectacle-ring and packings embodying this invention, which packings are interposed between said ring and the roundel and are securely held in place by the attaching-bolts for the ring. Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional detail showing one of my improved forms of packing in side elevation. Fig. 3, is a detail view, in perspective, of my improved form of packing, and, Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a narrow strip of felt of which my improved packing is composed.

1( represents the spectacle of a semaphore having, as here shown, three roundels 12, arranged in openings therein, and adapted to be held in position by the spectacle-rings 14, Wl'llCh are secured to the spectacle by bolts 16, said rings having angularly formed portions or lips which extend over the edgeportions of the roundels, and said rings extending entirely around the roundels, there by to hold them securely. My improved packings are arranged between said spectacle-rlngs and the roundels, and are securely held in place.

Referring to Fig. 4, a narrow strip of soft felt 20, or equivalent material is represented, which when folded and bent, forms one of my novel packings. It has two perforations 21, 22, which, when the strip is folded, are brought into position to register with each other, and said perforations are designed to receive the attaching-bolt by which the spectacle-ring is secured in place. Referring to Fig. 3, said strip is folded upon itself, the line of fold being represented at 23, thus to bring said perforations in position to register with each other and to form an attaching-portion of double thickness, which portion extends beneath the ring, but is held by said ring and by its attaching-bolt securely in place. The end portion of the strip thus folded is made long enough to extend beneath the edge-portion of the roundel, it usually extending to the edge of the opening in the spectacle, so that said edge-portion of the roundel rests upon a soft packing. The other end-portion of the strip is bent or angularly formed to extend over the edge-portion of the roundel, as represented in Fig. 2; said angularly formed portion conforming to the angularly formed portion of the ring, and made coextensive therewith. This form of packing is very efficient and does not deteriorate with age, and relieves the railroad of a serious problem.

I claim 1. A semaphore having a spectacle with anopening therein, a roundel, a ring arranged about the opening to hold the roundel in place over the opening, and felt packings arranged to embrace portions of the edge of the roundel at spaced intervals, said pack- I an opening therein,

ring placed about the roundel to hold the ring, and attaching'bolts passing through the spectacle and attaching-portions of the packings and the ring 2. A semaphore having a SPQCtELClflWltll a roundel, an angular roundel in place over the opening, felt packin'gs arranged to space the roundel from the spectacle and the ring, and attaching-bolts connecting the ring and spectacle, each of J said packings comprising a relatively narrow strip of material folded upon itself to provide a two-ply attaching-portion adapted to be received between the spectacle and Copies of this ringgthe two plies having al'ining apertures adapted to receive the attaching-bolt, one end-portion of the strip extending beyond the. attaching portion to occupy a position between the roundel and the spectacle and the other end-portion of the strip, beyond the attachingportion, being angularly formed to embracethe edge-portion of the roundel and conform to the angular formation of the ring, and to extend between the outer face of the roundel and the ring,f that portion of the second mentioned end-portion which engages the edge of the roundel serving as an abutment to hold the attachingportion against rotation about the attaching-bolt. i y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. i

FRANK P. J. PATENALL.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. STOUT,

GEO. W. HAULENBEEK.

patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

